Indigenous Open Mic

The second edition of the Micro ouvert autochtone (Indigenous Open Mic) event will take place on November 12 and 13 at Place des Arts, from noon to 6 pm.

Presented free of charge in Place des Arts’ various indoor spaces, Micro ouvert autochtone offers activities for one and all: musical performances and slam poetry, a craft fair and meetings with artists, culinary discoveries, dance and beading workshops, screenings of short films, and much more.

Orchestrated by Melissa Mollen Dupuis, this great gathering aims to reflect the Indigenous peoples’ spirit of community. An invitation to share with one another and an opportunity to get to know each other better.

Performances and workshops

Noon – Opening ceremony with Jacques Newashish, Atikamekw actor, filmmaker, painter, and sculptor

Followed by slam poetry by Réal Junior Leblanc (30 minutes)
A poet, slammer, filmmaker, and activist from the Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam and Nutakuan, Réal Junior Leblanc has travelled the world showcasing the beauty of his people through his films and poetry. He is seeking to change the world in his own way, by touching peoples’ hearts through his creativity and art, trading the bow and arrow for a pencil and a camera.

1:30 pm and 3:30 pm – Pitutenu Dance Workshop with Soleil Launière (30 minutes)
Welcome to the world of Soleil Launière, a multidisciplinary Pekuakamilnu artist born in Mashteuiatsh. Pitutenu is a space for exploration involving the body, inspired by butoh and ritual spaces. The workshop brings about an intimate connection with your body’s unique resonance and a state of total presence with the space around you.

2:15 pm – Musical performance (45 minutes)

4:30 pm – Musical performance by Shauit (45 minutes)
Shauit sings of the plurality of the First Nations’ cultural mosaic. Born in Maliotenam, the singer-songwriter’s work is strongly inspired by his Innu roots and traditional Indigenous music. Focused on the blending and fusion of the Québécois and Innu music worlds, Shauit paints a magnificent portrait showing a range of influences, with a sense of reunification and reconciliation as its backdrop.

Ongoing – Beading Workshops with Maïlys Flamand
Learn traditional beading techniques with Maïlys Flamand, of the Innu and Atikamekw nations. Make your own piece of jewelry to take home: beaded rings using the Peyote stitch technique and little fringed earrings.

Indigenous literature

Ongoing – Explore Indigenous literature through suggestions of youth books, tales, novels, and comics from Éditions Hannenorak.

2:00 pm – Discussion with Sipi Flamand, hosted by Melissa Mollen Dupuis (30 minutes)

Craft fair

Meet artists and artisans all weekend long. Products, books, objects, and works for sale on site.

Among the organizations and artisans present:
– Éditions Hannenorak, books by Indigenous authors
– Centre d’art Daphné, works by Indigenous artists
– Wapikoni mobile
– Craig Comanda, beading
– Moccasin Joe café

Screening of short films

See some fifteen short films, presented in collaboration with the Montreal International First Peoples’ Festival (Saturday) and Wapikoni Mobile (Sunday).

Projection of the art video KIWEW by the Atikamekw artist Eruoma Awashish, on the mosaic of screens of the Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme.

Food tasting ($)

Explore the flavours of Indigenous food prepared by Jacques Watso: Watso sagamite, traditional soup from the culinary heritage of the Abenaki community of Odanak, and bannock bread.

“For several years now, I have been rallying various communities around Indigenous issues. I have seen that by talking to each other, by exchanging ideas, and by eating and drinking together, a community and true coexistence can become a reality. So: Ashtem! Come one and all!” – Melissa Mollen Dupuis, Curator,

Espace culturel Georges-Émile-Lapalme
From November 12 To 13, 2022
From noon to 6 pm